Council Meeting Memo #046
Kloke: Cosmik Connection Vol.2 (UTTU, EP)
Ambient Jungle from a land down under. Where the melodies glow and the rhythms plunder. Cliched antipodean pop references aside, just head for ‘Crystal Caves’ for the full fat. SA
Nächtlich: Satanas Solum Initium Est (Black Gangrene Productions, Album)
As no other new record sleeve image captures the spirit of the 90s black metal underground in such a way, I took a punt on the duo’s latest LP and didn’t care how good or bad the music was. In this instance, Nächtlich’s filthy, necro-offering ‘Satanas Solum Initium Est’ is very good. Youth club musical workshop style synths pop up between aggressive, overdriven, mid-range guitar tones that sound like they were recorded in a bucket. Awesome. This, plus that badly shot photo of two overly excited, topless Canadians in bullet belts — raising their fists, mid ritual, in a forest, with a candelabra — makes for EVERYTHING I want in a black metal record. JB
Blood Incantation: Timewave Zero (Century Media, Album)
Another Starspawn or Hidden History of the Human Race will do, fellas. Or just another brilliant death metal album. None of this daft kosmiche / Tangerine Dream homage, please. Pure filler. Even on coloured vinyl. Rubbish. JB
Arp: New Pleasures (Mexican Summer, Album)
It’s funny how off-putting a negative review can be. Pitchfork’s assessment of the new Arp is a case in point. The reviewer clearly didn’t like its synthetic sound and much preferred its predecessor, Zebra (2018). I loved that album too in all its evocative loveliness and I heard it as a significant leap from Alexis Georgopoulos’ previous work. I’m glad to say that my feeling for Zebra meant I made the huge effort of typing its name into the search bar of Apple Music and choosing to add it to my library. I then went the whole extra mile and actually listened to the album. I know, the things I do to write a review, right? And I’m not even getting paid for this, I must be mad. Anyway, yes, New Pleasures is more synthetic, but I’m glad to say that to these ears its a joy like its predecessor: melodic, elegant, spacious and really interesting to listen to. I hear hints of Yellow Magic Orchestra, mid-period Japan, even a teeny-tiny sliver of Penguin Cafe Orchestra. It’s music for a sunny day. If it’s spring, summer or early autumn where you are, go listen to New Pleasures. CB
FUJI|||||||||||||TA: Noiseem (33 33, Album)
If the basic rule of thumb is that you pretty much consume everything that this artist releases. Then we can be friends. FUJI||||||||||TA (that’s a capital ‘I’ followed by 10 pipes, sometimes 11) or Yosuke Fujita to his mum, hails from Japan and makes accessible experimental music for an improved future. Elements of drone, field recordings and subdued ambience all contribute to his unique voice. SA
